Random November Photos

 

Samantha off to her first "drop-off" Princess Birthday Party for a school friend.

 

And a photobomb by her goofy brother!

 

 

Samantha got a Princess Snuggie for her birthday from Mrs. Janelle and Col. Proctor and she LIVES in it.

 

 

She has even asked to wear it to school....

 

 

We've settled for letting her wear it to the dinner table.

 

 

The Snuggie does bring extra snuggles though ;)

 



 

Monkeying around.

 

I can't think of a caption for this one, I am sure you can think of one yourself ;)

 

Practicing for family photos.

 

I love to see him in something other than pajamas, a rare occasion!

 

Playing her new game from Connor with her "friends".

 

 

Grocery shopping in style!

 

Blockhead.

 

Getting torchered by his sister but I actually think he likes it.

 

Channeling Mick Jagger?? 

State Street Christmas Parade

 

We bundled up a few weeks ago and headed downtown to meet the Paskin family for the Christmas Parade on State Street.  Not sure what is going on with the outfits but when I asked them to dress warm and wear layers, they apparently did it in the dark....

 

 

We watched some of the parade from upstairs in Mike's office which overlooks State Street and I am guessing it is up there where Thatcher made a rain boot change with Jack because he is now wearing a different pair than he had on in the picture above...

 

Over-priced light saber toys were bought

 

 

And these light up twirly things too.

 

It's like a miniature Macy's parade, kind of, sort of...

 

The girls had front row seats

 

and fun was had by all. 

 

Great start to the Christmas season!

 

He's BACK!

Frisbee is back! (seriously, check out that link, look how blonde Thatchie is!)

 

 

We brought out our Elf on the Shelf on Sam's birthday after the kids were asleep and placed him in the exact same spot he landed a year ago for the first time.  In the morning, Samantha noticed him first and Thatcher had no idea who or what he was. 

 

 

Since that first night, Frisbee has moved around our house except for the handful of times we forgot to move him in which case Samantha has cried because she thought he was dead.....And I know what you are thinking, how hard is it to remember to move a damn Elf each night, trust me, it is hard! 

 

 

And then on the opposite end of the spectrum, Thatcher has cried because he has woken up in the morning and can't find where we moved him....

 

 

And this is Frisbee asleep in the bed Samantha made for him along with a lollipop and a cap full of water.  I am so glad I remembered to put him in the bed she made with a half eaten lollipop and an empty water bowl because that night she was upset because she thought Frisbee didn't move the night before (whoops) because he was cold, tired, hungry and thirsty.  In the morning she was at first excited to see he found the bed she made but then upset again because he was sleeping with his eyes open....go figure!

 

 

Yes, he is holding Baby Jesus, which made me laugh.  Which made Todd laugh.  And the kids were laughing.  Which made this whole Elf on the Shelf thing, which to be honest, has become quite a chore and has sent both kids into emotional turmoil, not so bad.

 

 

Especially when I have caught both kids talking to Frisbee, telling him what they want for Christmas

or even better, tattling on each other to Frisbee. 

 

Frisbee, Sam hit me. Frisbee, Thatcher pulled my hair. Frisbee, Sam's not being nice to me.  Frisbee, Thatcher isn't sharing.  Frisbee, Frisbee, Frisbee! 

 

I love getting a bit of a break, thank you Frisbee!

 

 

Samantha Turns FIVE!

On 11/28, Samantha turned the big FIVE!

 



 

For her class birthday treat I made princess fruit wands sticking to the "no-junk" rule at her school.  I figured I had to get semi-creative considering a piece of fruit is not met with as much excitement as a cupcake for most kids ;)   I should have known that princess fruit wands would be met with less enthusiasm from the boys in her class, oh well, you can't please them all!

 

 

We did actually please them all with Sam's birthday book.  On your birthday, besides a healthy treat, you can bring in a new book for the classroom and the teacher reads your book and it gets added to the library.  The Interrupting Chicken is a really funny book especially for ages four and five because of how much they interrupt, especially in a classroom.  Every time I am in Sam's class there are a sea of hands that get raised throughout the day asking the most random questions at the most random times.  Ms. Trainor said it was the perfect story for the class and it made everyone laugh.

 

 

 

 

 

Later that night Samantha made a wish (we improvised and stuck a candle in a cookie). 

 

Happy fifth birthday Sammie Girl!

We love you!

I'm a HERO!

Our filmmaker friend, Russ, of Bison Films needed to use our front yard to film a scene for a local non-profit video he was shooting.  When Thatcher and I arrived home one day while they were filming, Russ and his client Ryland were digging Thatcher's batman cape (yes, he is STILL wearing his Halloween costume) and asked if he wouldn't mind having a bit part in their film.
 

As you can see, Batman was game ;)

 

 

Thatcher makes his debut just after the minute mark in the video.  His line, "My name is Thatcher, I vote for the environment because I am a hero," is a mouthful for a 2 and a half year old to say.  I wish I had the outtakes for you to hear. 





Thanksgiving 2012

We spent a lovely Thanksgiving in Thousand Oaks with Todd's family this year.

 

 

 

The kids played lots of games with Uncle Drew.

 

 

 

 

Thatcher was smitten with Uncle Drew who took him skateboarding.

 

 

 

And digging for....

 

WORMS!

 

 

Marilyn made a delicious turkey dinner.

 

 

Master carver, Papa Ward.

 

 

 

 

 

The kids loved having their own table (so did we) ;)

 

 

Yum, pumpkin pie!